I’m Knitting As Fast As I Can

One of the semi-secret projects I finished last month was the summer offering for the Wooly Wonka Change of Seasons Lace Club. When Anne approached me about participating in the club, I jumped at the chance to design the summer pattern. We decided on a 100% silk yarn and I gave her free rein to dye it any color she wanted. *cough, cough*
Actually, I gave her a skein of yarn I’d dyed myself and asked if she could match the color. Damned if she didn’t get it right on the money.

Unfortunately, the knitting needed to be completed right at the time my carpal tunnel syndrome was at its worst so Vanessa stepped up to the plate and knit the sample. That Vanessa is a mighty clever knitter. All she had was the pattern — no photo, no nothin’ — but she knit up the scarf in record time. You can see it on her Ravelry project page by clicking here.

Right now I’m working up a heavier sample in some Brooks Farm Primero that Margene got me at Estes Park last year (or maybe the year before).

I’ve set up a pattern page on Ravelry and the design should be available for wide-spread consumption near the end of the summer. If anyone wants to work up a sample in lace-weight yarn, give me a yell.

As you’ve probably noticed, I love to knit. However, I’m not particularly enamored with the finishing that usually accompanies the knitting. And the finishing technique I despise most of all is blocking.

Some people love it; I find it stressful. Mostly because I’m paranoid one side of my finished piece will be a fraction longer than the other side.

Need proof of my aversion to blocking?

Yup, I have no fewer than 5 completed projects that just need blocking. And they’re not all lace projects, either. Scoop du Jour can’t be assembled and finished until the knitted pieces are blocked.

At least I’ve made a start on that:

I also have two scarves I knit up this week which both need a nice wet block.

And while I was searching for my blocking wires and forked pins, I uncovered a Grinda scarf and a rather large shawl (of my own design), both of which I barely recall knitting but both of which also just need blocking.

So what’s a grrl to do while Scoop du Jour hogs the blocking board?

Why, knit a neck warmer and a pair of baby socks, of course:

Pattern: Chevron Neck Warmer by Veronik Avery
Yarn: Kathmandu Aran (color 153)

Time to Knit: one night (fast and easy)

Pattern: Pieces of Eight Baby Socks

Yarn: Crystal Palace Maizy (a blend of corn fiber and elastic)

Time to Knit: an evening

FYI–The Maizy yarn was nice to knit with and the finished socks are soft and stretchy. But the dye from the yarn bled all over my fingers.

I got a nice email from Crystal Palace saying they’ve had trouble with the darker colors crocking. Just a heads up.

After a bit of serious drama at my house in the wee hours of the morning on Monday, it looks like my trip to Boston/Rhinebeck is still a go. I won’t have Internet access for more than a week although there just may be a guest blogger here to entertain you on Thursday or Friday.

I’m excited to meet many of you for the first time, face-to-face. As my local grrls know, I completely suck at remembering names and other relevant information. So please forgive me if I mess up. And please stop me and say hello if you see me. You can recognize me in three ways:

1. I look like this (only my hair is a little shorter now):

2. If you’re playing Blogger Bingo, I’ll be carrying this tote bag.

3. If the weather forecast is wrong and it doesn’t rain on Saturday/Sunday I’ll be wearing this:

Ciao